So much has been written about the burgeoning happiness movement. While combing through my own research and notes on what happy and successful people do, it struck me how intentional they are about choosing the right mindset to become happier and more optimistic.

When you think of management of your mental health, what comes to mind? Maybe you meditate or take yoga, perhaps you participate in group activities to stay connected to others, or maybe you focus on getting enough sleep. Do you ever think of the role food plays in all of this? You should. That’s because studies show that the foods you choose to consume play a big role in your mental health status. Here’s what to choose, and what to lose.

Last month, I celebrated National Nutrition Month by asking each of you to dedicate more than just the 31 days to get your diet back on the right track. To truly fuel, and feel better, the focus needs to be year round. This month, we continue the journey by adding more color to the diet. That’s right; color! Americans are seriously lacking in the fruit and vegetable department, and efforts from public health campaigns to boost consumption have failed. That’s why you won’t hear me tell my patients to eat more fruits and vegetables. Instead, I’ll hopefully achieve the same goal by asking you to focus on eating at least five or more colors a day (none can be artificial by the way).

March has finally bloomed and for Dietitian’s like me, that means 31 days of constant nutrition talk. This is our month. Our Super Bowl. It’s a chance for nutrition experts everywhere to highlight the importance of a healthy diet. But then April rolls around, and nutrition fades into the background so that another important issue can take center stage. April also seems to be the month that most individuals abandon their New Year’s resolution and the month that extreme dieting emerges in a fruitless effort to be ready for bikini season. That’s ultimately what’s wrong with National Nutrition Month. It’s only one month.